St Martin (Albrecht of Brandenburg)

St Martin (Albrecht of Brandenburg)

Title

St Martin (Albrecht of Brandenburg)

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 283, No. 25a]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 283, No. 25a]

'St Martin can be readily identified as a portrait of the Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg. [...] the St Martin on the Aschaffenburg panel reveals much about Albrecht's self-image and his self-dramatisation. He is depicted as a bishop in extremely pompous pontifical robes - St Martin was initially an officer, but

'St Martin can be readily identified as a portrait of the Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg. [...] the St Martin on the Aschaffenburg panel reveals much about Albrecht's self-image and his self-dramatisation. He is depicted as a bishop in extremely pompous pontifical robes - St Martin was initially an officer, but he later became Bishop of Tours. Albrecht was however not satisfied with the bishop's sumptuous ecclesiastical vestments, which were probably fashioned after his own Episcopal insignia in addition a scarlet cap peeps out from beneath his miter and refers to his dignity as a cardinal. He drops a few coins into the bowl of a beggar, who kneels before him.

The pearl embroidery on the pontifical shoes peeping out from under his alba can be clearly seen. In addition to the pearl embroidery there are three coats-of-arms, which have been sewn onto the alba, or undergarment of the bishop. They show a wheel, the coat-of-arms of the archdiocese of Mainz, in the centre the coat-of-arms of the archdiocese of Magdeburg and beside it the coat-of-arms of the diocese of Halberstadt - all three of Albrecht's dioceses.'

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 283, 284, 286, No. 25a]

Attributions
Simon Franck
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Simon Franck

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, No. 25]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Halle 2006, no. 92A]

Production dates
1524 (?)
about 1500 - 1547

Production dates

1524 (?)

[cda 2012]

about 1500 - 1547

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 283, No. 25a]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 121 x 56.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 121 x 56.5 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 283, No. 25a]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

in the halo: 'SANCTVS MARTINVS'

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • in the halo:

  • 'SANCTVS MARTINVS'

Owner
Museen der Stadt Aschaffenburg
Repository
Stiftsmuseum Aschaffenburg
Location
Aschaffenburg
CDA ID
DE_MSA_169-1955
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MSA_169-1955/

Provenance

  • [the panels] are probably originally from Halle
  • in 1800 the panels in the cathedral treasury of Mainz and were auctioned in 1801
  • 1954 acquired from a private collection
    [Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 283, No. 25a]

Exhibitions

Halle 2006, no. 92A

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Decot 2007 Fig. p. 54
AuthorRolf Decot
TitleEin Kirchenfürst in schwieriger Zeit: Albrecht von Brandenburg (1513/14-1545)
Publicationin Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, eds., Cranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht, Schatzkammer, Residenz, Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Pages55-75
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007 283-286 No. 25a Fig. p. 284
EditorGerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke
TitleCranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht - Schatzkammer - Residenz. Ausstellungskatalog Schloss Johannisburg und Kunsthalle Jesuitenkirche
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Merkel 2007 A 78 Fig. 1
AuthorKerstin Merkel
TitleDie Konkubinen des Kardinals - Legenden und Fakten
Publicationin Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, eds., Cranach im Exil, Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Pages77-97
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Halle 2006 188, 190, 192 092A Pl. p. 192
EditorThomas Schauerte
TitleDer Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg. Renaissancefürst und Mäzen. Bd. 1: Katalog
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2006
Show Literature
Emmendörffer 1998 216, 217 Fig. 22.12
AuthorChristoph Emmendörffer
TitleDie selbständigen Cranachschüler
Publicationin Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, eds., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages203-228
Show Literature
Cat. Aschaffenburg 1994 107
AuthorIngrid Jenderko-Sichelschmidt, Markus Marquart, Gerhard Ermischer
TitleStiftsmuseum der Stadt Aschaffenburg
SeriesBayerische Museen
Volume18
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1994
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

'[...]In addition to the pearl embroidery there are three coats-of-arms, which have been sewn onto the alba, or undergarment of the bishop. They show a wheel, the coat-of-arms of the archdiocese of Mainz, in the centre the coat-of-arms of the archdiocese of Magdeburg and beside it the coat-of-arms of the diocese of Halberstadt – all three of Albrecht’s dioceses. According to heraldic hierarchy the most important coat-of-arms should be in the centre. This would have been the coat-of-arms of the archdiocese of Mainz, which was also the electorate. That here the coat-of-arms of Magdeburg is in the centre indicates, that the painting was commissioned for a location within the archdiocese of Magdeburg, probably Halle.'

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 286, No. 25a]

'[...] The depiction of Martin as a bishop with the beggar is not unusual even though the scene with the beggar took place before Martin’s clerical appointment and he in fact shared his coat with the beggar. A very similar representation can be found on the reverse of one of the wing panels of the Aschaffenburg triptych, a depiction that veritably anticipates this scene.[...]'

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 286, No. 25a]

Connected Works

St Ursula (Leys Schütz?)
  • St Ursula (Leys Schütz?), 1524 (?)
  • DE_MSA_170-1955
  • Painting
  • Museen der Stadt Aschaffenburg
  • St Martin (Albrecht of Brandenburg), 1524 (?)

Images

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Technical studies

06. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush; initial design executed with diluted medium

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- predominantly thin lines

- hatching-strokes

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe the essential details and the facial features; representation of volume (hatching-strokes)

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Simon Franck/Master of the Mass of St Gregory?

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'St Martin (Albrecht of Brandenburg)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MSA_169-1955/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'St Martin (Albrecht of Brandenburg)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MSA_169-1955/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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